Jackie at In the Land of the Living Skies, has tagged me for a meme. Here are the rules:

Open a document or photo folder

Choose the fifth folder and then the fifth photo in that folder.

Do a post describing the photo.

Tag five friends to do the Meme.

This is the fifth photo I found in the fifth file. It is of my niece, Melissa and her oldest son, Griffyn, who is almost 19 months old. This was taken at Christmas, I believe. Melissa was having some fun with Griffyn. Look at that smile on his face. You can tell that Melissa and Griffyn are very close when you look at this photo. She is an excellent mother.

Now to tag five people. That isn't an easy task for me, but here are my choices for this meme.

Diane of Diane's Place

Mama Bear of Bears in Exile

Denise of Samaritan Women

Storyteller of Small Reflections

Pea at Pea's Corner

Please let me know when you have posted the meme. I'd love to drop by to see the photos and read your story. If I haven't tagged you and you'd like to play along, you're most welcome to do so.

About a week ago, I received a package in the mail. It was from Hootin' Anni. When I opened it, this is what I found:

Anni knows I'm an avid reader and she picked me up a copy of Centennial by James A. Michener.

Centennial is an epic novel of the history, land, and people of Colorado. Centered around the fictional town of Centennial, the story contains an extensive cast of characters including Native Americans, French fur trappers, English noblemen, and American cowboys. Providing lively narrative against Michener's skillfully researched canvas are people like Levi and Ellie Zendt, who left the confining life of the Pennsylvania Dutch only to find terror and uncertainty on the trip west, and the Garrett family, whose yearly struggle to farm the land was met time and again with defeat.

This book is one that I know I'm going to love. It is a thick book and it's going to take some time for me to read it, but it is the kind of story that piques my interest.

Along with the book, Anni was kind enough to include a maple leaf book thong that she made and a beautiful card. In the card she wrote: May you enjoy this - It's a story of the area of Colorado USA where I grew up. Also included, a maple leaf book thong for my Canadian friend.

Thank you, dear Anni. You made my day. My apologies for being so late posting this. First my camera wouldn't work, then I had trouble uploading photos to my computer. Finally, after a lot of determination, I was able to get it posted. I appreciate these tokens of your friendship and treasure these gifts. The book, once it's been read, will go on my bookshelf with others that I love.

I hope all of my readers are enjoying the weekend. Remember to take some time to do something that you enjoy. ~Blessings, Mary~

My Interview

Hootin' Anni was interviewed on her blog and asked for volunteers to be interviewed by none other than Anni herself. Since Anni is so much fun, I couldn't resist volunteering. She sent me the questions in an email and this is what I have to do.

Hootin' Anni's interview can be found HERE!

RULES:

Follow these instructions:

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me." if you'd like to have questions asked.

2. I, the interviewer, get to pick the questions.

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. Five Questions, only.

5. Link to my interview post

Okay Mary, your questions are as follows:

1. You're single, in your twenties, and someone offered you a job that paid $100.00 an hour, but you had become betrothed and accepted this proposal prior to the job offer. Either way life will change for you. Would you back out of the job or back out of the promised marriage of bliss? Why?

A hard decision to be sure, but this is what I would do. I would tell my future husband that with me making that kind of money we could afford to move anywhere. I'd talk him into leaving his job and coming along with me so I could accept the job that paid such good money. After all, making that kind of money we wouldn't have to worry about finances. I'm sure he'd come along and find a new job where I was working. If he couldn't...well, at $100 per hour, he could be a kept man. LOL

2. Would you prefer a manicure/pedicure monthly or an hour long massage each month?

I WANT it ALL! But if I have to choose, I will take the hour long massage each month. This old body could sure use it and I can give myself a manicure/pedicure. I can't give myself a massage.

3. Make up your own quote. It's going to become an infamous quote that people around the world will recite over and over because of its notability, what would you say?

Once I leave this earth, I will live on in the heart of family and friends who loved me. As long as I'm remembered, my Spirit will never die.

4. Which animal is your favorite in the wild?

This one is very difficult because I love all animals...pandas, wolves, moose, elk, deer... but, if I had to choose a favorite local animal that lives in the wild, I would have to say deer...or maybe wolves. Yes, dear Anni, I'm breaking the rules. Deer AND wolves.

5. You're an actress, you're going to play a part in an epic film of the history of the world, which historical character would you play and why?

Mmm! Another hard one because I love history and would love to go back in time. But...I think Martha Washington because she was such a great support to George and she was the love of his life.

I also thought about choosing Mary Todd Lincoln because I would have loved to have met Old Abe, but she had too much sorrow in her life and suffered from depression, so Martha it is.

Now, if you would like to take part in this fun interview, just leave the words "Interview Me" in the comments on this post and I will send you your questions. This is a lot of fun and I have really easy interview questions.

Have a great weekend. Stay safe and warm and take time to enjoy life a little. Leave your worries behind and spend time with your family. ~Blessings, Mary~

Diane from Diane's Place was tagged for a meme. The tagger of the meme assigns you a letter of the alphabet and you then list 1o things you love that begin with that letter. Diane didn't tag anyone, but in the spirit of fun, I volunteered for this. She sent me the letter M because I jokingly told her I needed an easy letter. She gave me the letter because it is the one that my name begins with. Well Diane, I'm not sure if this is easy or not, but I had some fun trying to find 10 things I love beginning with the letter M. So here goes:

Mountains - Yes, I've had the privledge of seeing the Rocky Mountains of Canada. It was in 1974, when my daughter was five years old. We flew to Cranbrook, British Columbia to visit her father's relatives. The City of Cranbrook is surrounded by two mountain ranges...the Rockies and the Purcells. Here are a couple of photos of the area.

The Rockies

The Purcells

The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)

Cranbrook Sunset

View from the City of Cranbrook

So now you can see why I love the mountains. I would love to live in this small city in the Interior of British Columbia.

Meeko - Meeko is our Alaskan malamute and I love him dearly. He is a great companion and would give his life to protect us. Though he is usually very laid back, he can become very cross when strangers approach our property. He is sociable when he is out for a walk and never challenges other dogs, but if they challenge him he can become a bit irritated.

Meeko on the Alert

Michelle - My only child, my daughter, Michelle. She will be 40 in a couple of weeks. Where has the time gone. She is a pharmacy technician, holds down her job and raises two sons, ages 11 and 13, one of which is on the Autism Spectrum.

Margaret - My mother who is 81 years old and very independent. She has many talents. She can paint, do a wide variety of crafts. Mom sews, quilts and writes poetry.

Mary Margaret - I love the name that my parents gave me. The Mary was for my maternal grandmother...Margaret for my mother. I've always been very interested in the women of the Bible whose names start with M. Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary and Martha and Mary Magdalene have all piqued my interest. What were their daily lives like? How did they withstand the crucifixtion and still maintain their faith. These are just a few of the questions that I'd like to find the answers to.

Mysteries - I love reading mysteries.

Mockingbird - I had never seen a mockingbird until 2005. On a trip to Arkansas, a bird was singing in a large tree outside of a motel room. The song intrigued me, as did his appearance. I asked the owner of the motel what kind of bird it was and she told me it was a mockingbird. One of my favorite books is To Kill a Mockingbird.

Macaroni & Cheese - I love macaroni and cheese made the way that my grandmother cooked it. Mom can come very close to duplicating it. It is delicious.

Moose - We have moose in Ontario and I have seen them from a distance. They are one of my favorite animals. They are so ugly they are magnificent. There's nothing like seeing a moose in its natural habitat...however, use caution. Moose will charge at the slightest provocation, especially in rutting season, which is in the fall.

Moon - I love walking at night when the moon is full and the moonbeams light my path. Meeko and I often take a longer walk on nights when the moon is full. There's something magical about the moon on freshly fallen snow or its reflection on the water. One of my favorite things to do with my protector, Meeko.

I hope you've enjoyed my answers to the meme. I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you'd like to participate, please let me know and I will send you a letter. ~Blessings, Mary~

A Bit of Needlework

It's been a while since I've been out of the house. I've been working on my writing and staying in where it is cozy and warm. But I was beginning to get Cabin Fever, so today hubby and I headed out to Mary Maxim, which is a needlework and crafts store.

We spent about an hour looking around and we bought a couple of things. One was the stamped cross stitch kit above. I also bought an iron-on transfer pencil, embroidery floss, an eight-inch embroidery hoop (mine broke quite a while ago and I only have 12-inch, which is too big for a project I'm planning) and a package of embroidery needles.

I used to do a lot of needlework. I did a large swan and cygnet needlepoint years ago. It hung on our bedroom wall for years but one day when hubby was working in there, it came crashing to the floor and the frame broke. I really need to take it and have the mat changed and the frame either repaired or replaced.

I have had another needlepoint on the go for some time. It is of a stag on the moor of Scotland. I have been working on it off and on since Christmas, but don't have a lot of time. I was having problems seeing it, but since I got my new glasses, that isn't a problem, so hopefully I'll get it done before the winter's over. I don't do needlework in the summer because of gardening and being outdoors more.

For the next while, the needlepoint will sit neglected once more while I work on a small project. I can't tell you what it is, because it is for someone who reads my blog, but you will find out once it's done and this person has received it.

Do any of you do needlework? I find it relaxing. It also is very rewarding once your project is done. Please comment and let me know what hobbies you have. I'm always interested in projects that my readers have on the go. ~Blessings, Mary~